Garden State South Artificial Reef

Garden State South Artificial Reef

5.1 Nautical Miles off Spray Beach
Depth: 55-65 ft [download]


M60 tanks reef
M60 tanks undergo a thorough cleaning before use as reefs

The Artificial Reef Program used four types of obsolete Army armored vehicles as artificial reef materials off the New Jersey coast. These were cleaned at local military bases, loaded onto barges for transport, and pushed off at their final destination. Once the Army had disposed of its excess inventory, the program ceased, around 1999. The Artificial Reef Program has sunk almost 400 tanks altogether, far too many to list them here in this website.




GS Miller reef
Type:
artificial reef, barge
Specs:
( 90 x30 ft )
Sponsor:
Caldwell's Diving Company, Fish America Foundation
Sunk:
Tuesday October 10, 1989 - Garden State South Artificial Reef
GPS:
39°33.621' -74°06.528'

Rhino reef
Type:
artificial reef, crew boat
Specs:
( 50 x 13 ft )
Sponsor:
Caldwell's Diving Company, Absecon Saltwater Fishermen
Sunk:
Friday May 27, 1988 - Garden State South Artificial Reef
GPS:
39°33.693' -74°06.123'
Depth:
65 ft

rock reef
A hopper barge full of rock

All manner of concrete, steel, and stone rubble from dredging, demolition projects, and other construction is used as artificial reef materials. This material is generally available at very low cost or free from construction companies who are more than happy to get rid of it. Transportation costs determine where this material is used by the Reef Program.


Starcraft reef
Type:
artificial reef, barge
Specs:
( 150 x 40 ft )
Sponsor:
Eklof Marine, Ocean Wreck Divers club, Artificial Reef Association, Village Harbor Fishing Club
Sunk:
Wednesday May 11, 1994 - Garden State South Artificial Reef
GPS:
39°33.528' -74°06.309'

Ocean Wreck Divers I reef
Type:
artificial reef, MLB-44 patrol boats ( 2 ), US Coast Guard
Built:
1960s, MD USA
Specs:
( 44 x 12 ft ) 20 tons
Sponsor:
Ocean Wreck Divers
VHFC - Village Harbor Fishing Club, GDF
Depth:
OWD - 60 ft
VHFC - 80 ft
Sunk:
OWD - Tuesday July 11, 1995
VHFC - Tuesday May 16, 1995 - Garden State South Artificial Reef
GPS - OWD:
39°33.426' -74°05.973'
GPS - VHFC:
39°33.496' -74°05.991'

Hermit Crab

Hermit crabs live inside empty snail shells in shallow water along beaches and in estuaries, small specimens on mudflats and large ones offshore. Some hermit crabs are entirely terrestrial, needing the water only to lay eggs. In the South Pacific, there are types that actually climb trees and very large ones that don't bother with a shell as adults.

The size of the crab determines what kind of shell, and upgrades are required as the crab grows. The Flat-Clawed Hermit Crab Pagurus arcuatus (right) is the largest in our area, and will often use Moon Snails and Whelks, but you will only find the big ones in deeper water. Small ones use Periwinkles and Oyster Drills.

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